"Clean your pad often" question

[Clutch34]

I don't own a DA nor any pads at this time, but here's something I was curious about:

After using 1 yellow pad, you quickly wash it and set it aside to dry and use another yellow pad. Once the 2nd yellow pad is saturated and needs to be washed, you go back to the first yellow pad but it hasn't completely dried out yet -- can you still use it even though it's wet?

I plan on ordering some yellow and black pads when I order my DA, any suggestions on how many of each I'll need as a start up detailer? (only for my car and family/friends cars) And will I need a maroon pad or will the yellow ones suffice? Not looking to start up a business just yet so I don't need a ton of pads, just wondering the "norm" is I guess.

Thanks.

[Murr1525]

Re: "Clean your pad often" question

Yeah, not quite.

Few different questions there:

1. Clean pad often means to "clean on the fly" every panel or so by holding the pad against a towel while the buffer is on. (Don't do this with a rotary.)

2. No, you cannot use a wet pad. So you would use all your pad, then wash them at the end of the day. Then give plenty of drying time.

3. As to how many pads you need.... the more defect removal, the more pads. If you just want to gently clean a car, then you can get away with one. If you want to do defect removal, 2 would be better, half the car for each pad. Serious defects may want more. You can usually wax with just one though.

You would just need 1 cutting pad if you wanted to remove waxes with the MF bonnets and the machine.

[Clutch34]

Re: "Clean your pad often" question

Aight cool. I know a few sites have "pad combos" where you can buy packs of 3 or 6 of them together for a slightly cheaper price then buying them individually. Just wanted to ask so I could get an idea if I wanted to order the 3 pack (2 yellow, 1 black) or 6 pack (I guess 4 yellow & 2 black).

Also, when holding the pad against a MF towel, what speed should I have the buffer at?

[Murr1525]

Re: "Clean your pad often" question

Well, like at ADS, you can get the buffer combo, and a case of pads.

So that would be like 1 yellow, plus say 3 yellow, 2 black, 1 red. Used to be a bit bigger of a deal when they couldnt be washed as much, and you really needed 1 pad per product as well.

Usually you would just use the speed you were at, since it is like 5 for most cleaning.

[Clutch34]

Re: "Clean your pad often" question

Yea, ADS has the cheapest 6 pack of pads that I could find with Meguiars 2.0 pads.

[Calais]

Re: "Clean your pad often" question

Get a 6-pack with 4 yellow and 2 black, plus your polisher kit should come with a couple of pads too if you order from ADS.

[Clutch34]

Re: "Clean your pad often" question

Thanks, that's what I was leaning towards, too.

Should I use one product for one pad or will it not really matter once I machine wash them? I only have SwirlX and ColorX for cleaning/polishing and NXT Tech Wax and GC Wax for sealant/waxes. I'm thinking getting D151 tho.. been hearing a lot of good things about it.

[Murr1525]

Re: "Clean your pad often" question

Now that they can be washed good, it wont really matter.

I would look at #105 before D151... butboth can be usefull for a car in bad shape. D151 more for customers though....

[Clutch34]

Re: "Clean your pad often" question

I'm actually a little nervous to use #105 due to its high cutting power.. I think I want to get some hours behind a DA and SwirlX/ColorX before jumping up to #105! <-- is this a legit reason to be nervous...or am I just being a noob? lol

If I get 105, I'd have to get 205 to follow up right? Then a wax/sealant to protect... hmm..was kind of looking for an AOI, hence D151.

[Murr1525]

Re: "Clean your pad often" question

Well.. I mean the products are a bit different of course...

But if you are going to fix the vehicle up once, and then maintain it, hopefully you would just need a mild product or a strong product once, and then mild products for upkeep.

So ColorX, SwirlX, #205, Cleaner/Wax would be your mild products...

Something like D151 is very strong, so shouldn't be needed over and over. Plus, #105 can be used for spot treatment if needed, metal....

[Clutch34]

Re: "Clean your pad often" question

D151 is that strong? Didn't know that..makes sense what you're saying tho. Well, I guess I'll put more thought into it before ordering/buying anymore products and ask here first before biting the bullet.

Mann...there's a lot more thought process into which products to buy then I expected.. lol

[Murr1525]

Re: "Clean your pad often" question

D151 isnt as strong as #105.... but it is not your everday cleaner/wax either.

[Clutch34]

Re: "Clean your pad often" question

Good to know, thanks Murr.